Random Thoughts On "The Big Game"- Who Dem?

Well its that time....the National Football League will crown a new champion tomorrow night. And I suppose its my solemn duty as a semi-professional internet blogger type person to make some comments and give my pick for the game. OK folks....you didn't ask for it but here I come!

(1). I'm pretty damn sick about having to refer to this event as "The Big Game" since I'm not a licensee of the NFL, and for all I know I'll call it by the "SB" name and a small squadron of lawyers will be shaking me down for money I don't have. And the only reason they would do that is because the rack and debtor's prisons were phased out a couple of centuries ago.



(2) Above, we have Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. If you've been living under a rock or something you might not have heard that he is the son of Archie Manning, who quarterbacked the New Orleans Saints when they weren't very good. Archie and wife Olivia are the head of the First Family of Football...they also have another son named Eli....you might have heard of him as well. But then again, you could be one of the those people who didn't know that because you watch only one game per year, and this is it. This Game (it must be capitalized to show the proper reverence) has  become an official- unofficial American holiday, and if you don't watch the Tea Baggers who live next door to you will question your Americanism and will ask for your birth certificate.

And then you'll really be sorry .

(3) Above and below.....gratuitous photos of the lovely cheerleaders of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. No other reason for posting them other than they sure are purdy....and I can see their belly buttons on this frigid day in the Northeast.

(4) On the right....now that's a FAN. But how in God's name can he see the game?

(5). And another thing....what's this stuff about the NFL saying they own the copyright to the expression "Who Dat?", used by the New Orleans Saints fans? That makes about as much sense as a certain news organization saying they trademarked the expression "fair and balanced". Anyway, check this story about the NFL's clain of copyright infringement when the phrase is used in conjunction with the New Orleans Saints.

(6).The NFL is talking about playing a "Big Game" in the new Giants-Jets Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey in the future. Ahhhhh....Commissioner Goodell?- parts of New Jersey got as much as 20 inches of snow today, on the eve of the "SB"...how can you expect geriatric classic rock bands to perform at halftime in those conditions? Oh yeah...there is a football game to be played as well.

(7). And speaking of halftime entertainment.....I loved The Who. They were my favorite performing rock band of alltime. But The Who will not be performing at "The Big Game"- Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry, and a bunch of hired hands will. Pete thought about folding the group after the death of Keith Moon. But Pete, Roger, and John Entwistle moved on, first with Kenny Jones, and with others, until John's death in 2002. Pete and Roger are the voice, the writer, the brain, and the guitar of The Who. But half of the group has left us....I wonder of Paul and Ringo could be performing as "The Beatles" next.

(8). How can we talk about the "Big Game" without mentioning the rise of OCNN, the Ochocinco News Network, which has made its presence felt in the covering of the "SB"? Founded by Chad Ochocinco OCNN also employs NFL players Chris Cooley, Darnell Dockett, and (former Rutgers great) Ray Rice as on site reporters....along with superfans Jake and Amir. Below, watch 'em do their stuff!


(9) Do you remember Mike Brown, the FEMA director at the time when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and vicinity? The "You're doin' a great job there, Brownie" guy? Wouldn't you think he would at least pick the Saints to win the game just so it might help ease the city's pain just a little?

Well....Mike Brown didn't pick the Saints. And somehow I'm not surprised. Below, more on that, and what the President is doing on Sunday, and some other pertinent nonsense regarding El Juego Grande!!

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(10). In closing......take the COLTS to win the game 31-24. Indy will be hurting on defense because Dwight Freeney will be hobbling. But the Colts will just plug another guy in, which is their wont, and will get it done. Drew Brees and company have had a fine year and are the sentimental favorites to win. But yesterday I was listening to something former NFL executive Carl Peterson said during a radio interview. He was the GM of the Philadelphia Eagles when they went to the SB to play the Oakland Raiders. It was the first appearance for the Eagles, the third for the Raiders. The Eagles were a solid favorite in the game....and were beaten badly. Peterson said yesterday that the Eagles were in such a state of awe in being in a game of such magnitude, they froze up. Peterson indicated that would be the case for the Saints tomorrow.....and I think he's right.

Enjoy the game and your parties, everyone!

Correction Sunday Feb 7th, 11:00am. Guilty as charged! As originally posted I had the point about the NFL's charge of copyright infringement wrong. The correct phrase is "Who Dat?", not "Who Dey?". The second phrase is one used by Cincinnati Bengals fans. I wonder if there is a legal action pending for that one as well.

Quick Hits For December 9th; Meet Mr. Monk's Daughter (Well, Sort Of)

(1) There was a lot of activity on this blog last weekend concerning the MONK series finale, one of the busiest 24 hours this blog has ever seen....but there was one issue that was never resolved and had viewers scouring the internet still looking for answers....

People wanted to know who was the very beautiful actress who played Trudy Monk's daughter?.

Molly Evans was played by Alona Tal, an Israeli actress, who like the character she played on MONK is 26 years of age. She starred on several series in Israel, and began her career in the United States on Veronica Mars as "Meg Manning" from 2004-06. She had a recurring role on Supernatural (2006-09), and has guest starred in such series as CSI; Crime Scene Investigation, Cold Case, 7th Heaven, Ghost Whisperer, and The Mentalist.

Almost immediately after the episode aired, within minutes, queries began....who played Molly in MONK's finale?  I had no answer at the time, and as of now on the USA website the credits for the last show of not been posted in the episode guide. But she definitely made an impression on the huge audience for the final show. 

After five years of working in the States, Alona Tal is an overnight sensation!



(2) Same sex marriage is being debated in Trenton. The current governor, Jon Corzine, said he would sign the bill if it passes. Governor elect Chris Christie has said he would veto the bill if he were in office. My take- I agree with the immortal Kinky Friedman. When Kinky was running for governor of Texas a few years ago he was asked what he thought of same sex marriage he said....."I'm for same sex marriage. There's no reason gay people shouldn't be allowed to be as miserable as the rest of us are".

(3).The funniest guy on late night TV....or possibly on any TV show? Its Craig Ferguson, hands down (above with Jennifer Love Hewitt). Living proof that less is more....no band, no sidekicks, just Craig and his stream of consciousness  form of humor. The guest has no idea where he going with the interview, so its just be prepared for anything and everything. He does a great Michael Caine impression as well.

(4). On November 29th I boldly made these bowl projections for the Big East....

Cincinnati beats Pitt, West Virginia beats Rutgers, and UCONN- USF a tossup. Cincinnati would go to the Sugar Bowl, West Virginia (tie breaker on Pitt) goes to the Gator, Pitt goes to the Meineke, Rutgers to St.Petersburg, South Florida to The International, UCONN to Papa John's.

OK...so I also included three other scenarios to cover all of the bases. I'd rather be thorough than to be wrong. But I'm usually never so thorough, and often find myself oh-so-wrong.

(5). Does anybody out there actually write down how you managed to rig the outdoor Christmas lights so you can be more efficient each year, or are you like me- a mad scientist plugging in lights and watching them short out before your eyes? And because of this, have you invented any new curse words for this most sacred of seasons? Well...I have.

"#@%$#)&@'er's".....and its so damn cold out here!"

(6). I don't know what I found more amusing- Chad Ochocinco putting on a sombrero and poncho after catching a touchdown pass last Sunday (and getting a $30,000 fine from the league for doing it) or seeing ESPN's latest promo featuring Mike Ditka and Snoop Dogg (talk about an odd couple). Nice hat Mike!

(7). I woke up yesterday morning, looked at the calendar, and saw it was December 8th...."Ahhhhh! The "Feast of the Immaculate Reception," I said to myself. Which means either I'm not such a good Catholic (no big news there) or I watch way too much football. Or perhaps both.

(8) Sad news about the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs being disbanded. Just a few years ago they won the league championship and for years were one of the WNBA's flagship franchises. In recent years the franchises in Charlotte and Houston were dissolved and Detroit is being relocated to Tulsa. A recent press release has said the league wants to have a franchise in the San Francisco Bay area in 2011- new ownership was sought for the Monarchs but not found, and the timetable for a move to the Bay Area just wasn't feasible. A dispersal draft is to be held for the the players on the Monarchs roster.

(9).As The World Turns , the CBS soap opera which made its debut on April 2, 1956, will end its run on September 17, 2010. The age of the daytime soap opera may be nearing an end, with a total of only six on three networks as of fall, 2010. Its yet another blow to the acting fraternity based in New York.

So what will be the replacement? Yet another talk show? A retread gameshow? Or a vapid unreality reality show? I'm not a fan of soaps but at least they are scripted and gave actors a chance to work on their craft. This is just another example of what happens when bean counters take over an industry....ANY industry.

(10). Finally, Rick Malwitz, columnist for The Home News Tribune wrote a great piece; For Some Five Consecutive Bowls Is Not Enough, concerning some of the griping Rutgers Nation is doing about its selection to play Central Florida in The St. Petersburg Bowl. Rick's take is it wasn't that long ago (2004) that Rutgers football fans would sell their first born to go to a bowl game...ANY bowl game, having not gone to one since 1978. And Rick is right- the mere fact that people are complaining about going to a minor bowl game is, in a way, a sign of progress.


I'll be sticking to this self imposed Holiday Schedule until the beginning of the New Year or unless World War III breaks out in the next three weeks, which ever comes first. It works for me....and I have mucho stuff to do, Christmas shopping, and a house to decorate for the holidays....we'll talk to you again on Friday.